Windshield wiper



Sept 9, 1952 J. H. WERNIG 2,609,561

WINDSHIELD WIPER Filed July 26, 1946 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 Patented Sept. 9, i952 ,UNITED wINDsHIELD WIPER Y James H. Wernig, Detroit, Mich.,Y assignor to General Motors Corporation, Detroit,Mich., a

corporation of- Delaware Application July 26, 1946, Serial No. 686,544

Y v 1 Y This invention relates to windshield cleaners for motor vehicles.

The object of the invention is the provision of means to deliver water or any preferred cleaning liquid to the surface of the glass.

l7 Claims. V(Cl. 15e-250.4)

A further object is to provide means for delivering the fluid from jets located 4adjacent the axis of rotation of the wiper arm and movable therewith, the jets in one form Varrangedk to deliver the fluid on both sides of the blade.

Other objects and advantages including sim-1 plicity and economy in the manufacture of the which the invention may be embodied. I

Fig. 7 is a similar section of still another form.

Numeral 5 is applied Ato a conventional motor vehicle windshield. At its base is a seal 1 of rubber or the like. The rubber seal is supported by metal parts 9 and II constituting usual body parts.

Extending through the rubber seal is a sleeve I3 serving as a. bearing for a rockshaft I5. On the end of rockshaft I5 is secured the hub or end I1 of an arm I9 which, together with arm member 2 I, carries the blade 23 which oscillates back and forth over the glass in response to the rocking VVof the rockshaft.

There is shown at 25 a power source or motor. It is of such a kind that it reversely rotates pulleys 21 and 29. Pulley 29 is connected to a pulley 3I on shaft I5 by a. driving belt 33. The belt on pulley 21 may bev used to operate a second wiper assembly not shown.

Shaft I5 is tubular and threaded into its end is a fitting 35. The other end of tubular shaft I5 is coupled by a fitting I5 to a tube 31 of rubber or an equivalent. 'Iube 31 is to be connected to any convenient source of fluid under pressure such as a reservoir. There will be a control valve provided for admitting the fluid from the reservoir to the hollow shaft I5. :Such a reservoir and valve have been heretofore proposed and since no novelty in these elements is being claimed they are not shown.

The fitting 35 terminatesl in an external nut formation 39 to facilitate its assembly withthe end of shaft I5. It extends somewhat beyond the nut formation to Van Aupper edge 4I within which are spaced radial passages 43in its wall. A cap or plug 45 is threaded into fitting 39 until an outer ange thereof at 41 reaches edge 4I. The plug 45 has an axial passage 49 Vcommunicating with a, spacek 5I. The space 5I communicates `by means olfY a recess 53 with the radial passages 43. These radial passages are arranged one-on each side of the arm so that the stream of liquid is delivered a few degrees on each side of the blade. Inthis way water from one vjet loosens particles on the glass just prior to the 'contact of the particles by the wiper blade. Any particles loosened by the blade but which are' left behind may vbe washed down by the water from the second jet.

-The rubber tube and pulley assemblymay be housed as shown at 55.

When it is desired to operate the windshield wiper the shaft I5 isrocked as explained above. If it be found desirable to spraythe glass, it is only necessary to admit thef fluid through the hollow shaft. vAs the shaft oscillates the rubber tube twists sufficiently to accommodate the rockingof the shaft. The two jets travel with the blade arm and always supply the stream of liquid Where needed, thus avoiding wasting and available supply.

In the forrn'of invention shown by Fig'. 4, the rockshaft 6I Ycarries the hub 63 of the wiper arm 65. As before, the rockshaftBI is tubular to carry `the. cleaning fluid. Instead of the nozzle structure 35 I extend the hub 63'outwardly to some extent to provide a space into which Iv thread a simple nozzle 61 having a single opening for the discharge of fluid, the nozzle extended at an angle to the'arrn as 'shown by Fig. 5. ,Y In thisform as in the other, the nozzle rocks with the arm but asinglestream onlyis used.V 'Toremovethe arm hub it is not necessary torremovethe nozzle as in the form shown by Fig: 1 because of the unitary `characteristic 0f hub and nozzle.

Fig. 6 shows a form wherein the rockshaft 1I is rotatably supported at 13 and 15 in the bearing bracket 11.' It has a tapered flange 19 engaging a bracket abutment. Beyond the flange 19 there is fitted t0 the rockshaft the hub 8I of the wiper arm. Extending through the hollow rockshaft is a non-rotatable liquidcarrying tube 83 supported on the bracket at one end 85. Its other end is supported by a bearing member 81 in the hub at the end of the rockshaft. Secured on the end of tube 83 is the angular nozzle 89 with an outlet from which liquid may be discharged to the windshield. Fig. 7 shows a slight difference. It lacks the support for the tube 83 in the hub 9| of the arm and the nozzle is formed by bending up the end of the tube 83' and coupling a discharge jet 93 by a coupling 95. Ic1aim: j 1. In -a windshield cleaner, a tubular rockshaft, an arm and blade carried thereby, means including a collar surrounding said rockshaft adjacent the outer end thereof, connecting said ,A arm to the outer end of said rockshaft,an axial passage in said rockshait, conduit V`means con-l '-,l

necting a fluid source to said passage, a jet'tting secured at the outer end of said rockshaft, said jet tting consisting of one part secured lto said rockshaft and having an axial bore connected to said axial passage, said fitting part having an 4 annular surface surrounding said bore, a second iitting Dart secured to said first part andhaving an annularjsurface engaging the annular surface on said rst part, and a radial groove in one of said annular surfaces connected to :said -axiai bore to providea spray nczzie.

2. In a Windshield cleaner, a tubularrocl shaft, an arm and blade carried thereby, means including a collarsurrounding ,said rockshaft adjacent the outer endthereof, connecting said arm to the outer end of said rockshaft, an axial passage in Y said` srockshaft, `flexible conduit means coaxially securedto the inner Vend, of` said rockshaft, and connecting'a liiuidgsource to said passage, a jet tting securedat the outer end orsad rockshaft, said jet tting ,consisting of one part secured to said rockshaft and having'an axial boreconnected,l

to said axial passage, saidtting part havingan.

annular surface surrounding said bore, a second iitting part securedto'said nrst part and having an annular surface engaging the `annular surface ony said rst part, anda radial' groove in one of saidv annular surfacesconnected to'said axialbore to provide a spray nozzle. 1

3. In a windshield cleaner, a tubular rockshaft, an arm and lblade carried thereby, means including a Acollar 'surrounding said rockshaft adjacenty the outer endthereof, connectlngfsaid arm to the outer end of said rockshaft, anaxial passage in said rockshaft, flexible conduitmeans ooaxially secured to the inner end of said rockshaft and connectingV a fluid source to said passage, drive means connected to` said rockshaft between said inner and outer ends, a jet ttingv secured at the outer end of said rockshaft, said jet fitting consisting of one part secured to said rockshaft and having an axial bore communicating with said axial passage. said tting part having an annular surface surrounding said bore, a second fitting part threaded'to said first part -and having an annular surface engaging the annular surface on said first part, and a radialg'roove in one of said annular surfaces connected to saidaxial bore to provide a spray nozzle which` may be cleaned byk rotating said second part with respect to said iirst part.

4. In a windshield cleaner, a tubular rockshaft, an arm having a spring-biased hinge joint adjacent the rockshaft end, a blade carried by the other end of said arm, means including a collar surrounding said rockshaft adjacent the outer end thereof, connecting said arm to the outer end of said rockshaft, an axial passage in said rockshaft, yiiexible conduit meanscoaxially secured to the inner end of said roclshaft and connecting a fluid source to said passage, drive means vconnected to said rockshaft between said inner and outer ends, a jet ttng secured at the outer 'end 'ofsaid rockshaft, said jet ntting consisting of one part axially located and secured in said axialpassage of-.the rockshaft and having an axial lbore communicating with said axial passage, said fitting extending along the outer side of said arm and terminating short of said hinge joint so that .the wiper arm may be bent backward to remove the blade, said iitting part having an annular surface surrounding said bore, vva@,second iitting part threaded to said iirst partgand-having an annular surface engagingA the ,annular 'surface on saidf irst part, and; a radial groove-in one of said annular surfns'isconnected .tQ said 'axial bore to providea sprayj nozzle Awhich may be cleaned rotatingsaidsecond part withrespect to vsaid first part.` f

. 5. In a windshield,leaner awiridshield'wipr mounting having a bore ,extendingzfrom the outside to theinside of the windshield, a tubular rockshait -oscillatablyl disposedzin 'said bore, ,and having a wiper arm securing means at'its outer vend and a wiper arm thereon, a stub jetnoz'zle carried by the outer end of saidfrockshaft and oscillatable with it andv having means for ejecting iiuid. into the field of movement of therblade and along a path f angularlyl disposed to the axis of said blade, and means'for supplying'uidto the inside end of said .tubular rockshaft and thence to said nozzle. .Y i

6. The invention. defined by yclaimv 5 in which thestub jet nozzle mountingis carried'by a .part formed integrally with the wiper arm securing l, means;

Number VName 1,733,884 Gearnart Dee. 10,1929 1,801,373 Vstevens i Apr.'21,'1931 1,857,419 Williams" May1o,11932" z,17s,o6a f 2,289,650-'- 

